PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Transportation will begin closing Route 45 at the Platte River near Farley by 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning, closing the road to through traffic from MO 92 to I-435. Traffic in the area will need to use alternate routes to move around the closure. This road will remain closed until flood waters reach a safe level. Currently, Route 45 is closed from Route 116 in Buchannon County to Route H in Weston.

The Platte River, unable to drain into the Missouri River due to high waters, is rising quickly. MoDOT, working with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Platte County Emergency Management and the local levee district, will place temporary levees along route 45 to raise the road elevation and match the existing levee in the area. This will help minimize potential flooding from the Platte River as levels continue to rise while maintaining the safety of motorists in the area.

Other routes that face potential flooding are being watched closely. Detour routes have been assigned in anticipation of these closures. If these roads become unsafe, officials will completely close the area and send motorists safely around the closure. Motorists can find the location of highways closed by water on MoDOT's Traveler Information Map, available at www.modot.org/kc.

If you are driving and come upon rapidly rising water, turn and find another route. If your route is blocked by barricades, find another route as the road is not passable. Barricades are put up by state or local officials to protect travelers from unsafe roads. Driving around them can be a serious risk.

For further information about flooding, please visit MoDOT's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/modot.kansascity, Twitter site at www.twitter.com/modot_kc, or web site at www.modot.org/kansascity. You can also contact MoDOT 24 hours-a-day at 888-ASK-MODOT to find out information or report road concerns.